Boston officer recommended for Portsmouth chief

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (AP) — A high-ranking Boston police officer is being recommended as the new police chief in Portsmouth.

The Newport Daily News reports that the town council has been asked to ratify the selection of Boston Police Capt. Thomas F. Lee on Monday.

Lee, who lives in Hanover, Mass., has 32 years of experience and has been commander of the area that includes the North End, Chinatown and Charlestown since March 2012. He previously commanded Boston's SWAT teams and was deputy superintendent of criminal investigations and captain of the Internal Affairs Division.

He was chosen from among a field of 21 candidates.

Former Chief Lance Hebert retired in December. Jeffrey Furtado has been the acting police chief since then but retired in June although agreed to stay on until a replacement is found.